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The differences between child welfare specialists and protective service specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a child welfare specialist and a protective service specialist. Additionally, a child welfare specialist has an average salary of $50,377, which is higher than the $50,293 average annual salary of a protective service specialist.
The top three skills for a child welfare specialist include social work, foster care and child safety. The most important skills for a protective service specialist are social work, child safety, and foster care.
| Child Welfare Specialist | Protective Service Specialist | |
| Yearly salary | $50,377 | $50,293 |
| Hourly rate | $24.22 | $24.18 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 76,508 | 81,211 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Child welfare specialists are professionals who are responsible for protecting children and youngsters from harm by visiting their homes and other residential facilities to investigate their living conditions. These specialists are required to determine the suitability of the homes and resources of foster and adoptive parents for child placement. They must serve as child advocates by attending court proceedings to provide inclusive court proceedings. Child welfare specialists must also work closely with local enforcement to ensure the safety of children.
Protective Service Specialists provide information to individuals and families to achieve self-sufficiency through child support services and employment opportunities. Most of these specialists recommend family services include parenting education, drug counseling, and financial base services. They review applicant documentation to determine eligibility for federal and state aid programs, including food stamps, Medicaid, and emergency assistance. Also, protective service specialists assist families with the resources that can help resolve the issues that risk the children's placement. They may even provide staff supervision about referrals obtained to ensure that they meet the criteria for services and intervention.
Child welfare specialists and protective service specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Child Welfare Specialist | Protective Service Specialist | |
| Average salary | $50,377 | $50,293 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $71,000 | Between $32,000 And $76,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cherry Hill, NJ | Baltimore, MD |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | University of California | Parsons |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Government |
There are a few differences between a child welfare specialist and a protective service specialist in terms of educational background:
| Child Welfare Specialist | Protective Service Specialist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 75% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Social Work |
| Most common college | SUNY at Albany | SUNY at Albany |
Here are the differences between child welfare specialists' and protective service specialists' demographics:
| Child Welfare Specialist | Protective Service Specialist | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 20.2% Female, 79.8% | Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% | Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 15.1% Asian, 2.7% White, 63.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |